Portable housing device



J. S. WHITE.

PORTABLE HOUSING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED NOV-26. 1920.

B'SHEETS-SHEET l Patented May 16, 1922.

I. S. WHITE.

PORTABLE HOUSING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.26,1920.

2 2. 92 IT E 6m 114 .km. S as .m m a P J. 8. WHITE.

PORTABLE HOUS|NG-DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.2s. 1920.

1 1,416,146. Patented May'16,1922.

e SHEETS 'SHEET a.

1. 3. WHITE.

PORTABLE HOUSING DEVICE.

APPLICATION. FILED NOV.26. I920.

lmrzlr /2/21: J.

Patentd May 16, 1922.,

6 SHEETSSHEET 4.

1. 8. WHITE.

PORTABLE HOUSING DEVICE.

' v "APPLICATIQN'FILED Nov.26. 1920. v 1 I I 11,416,146. v Patented y16,1922.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

J."S. WHITE. PORTABLE HOUSING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED NOV.26, 1920.

Patented May 16, 1922.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

haz-zzr entran stares! Parent Erica;

.rorin s. WHITE, or WILMINGTON, DELAWARE. Assrenon T0 LILLY B. siviirn,on

. ATLANTA, GEORGIA. v i a PORTABLE ga'ousnv'e DEVICE.

Application filed November 26, 1920. Serial No. 426,397.

To all whom it may concern: ,7

Be it known that I, JOHN S. WHITE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Wilmington, in the county of New Castle and State ofDelaware, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Portable'Housing' Devices of which the following is a specifications One objectof my invention is to provide an improved portable housing device whichcan be easily moved from place toplace and canbe used with great comfortand conven ience at the seashore, for camping purposes, on open porchesor for many other purposes where a person wishes privacy in a portablethe comforts and conveniences procurable-in a permanent housingstructure and atthe same time affording an abundance of fresh air andother conditions which. will insure health. I

Another object is to so construct my' improved devicethat it will insureprivacy andcomfort as a sleeping compartment or as a couch so thataperson may either sit upright therein or in an inclined position and atthe same time will be protected against the elements.

Another object is to so construct my'in yvention that when usedforsleeping purposes, sufi'icient fresh air can be admitted into thestructure without causii'ig drafts or other conditions which wouldimpair the health of the occupant.'

A further object is to include in the structure, means readily adaptedfor use instoring either personal or bed clothing; said means beingoperative to; prevent drafts from affecting the sleeper. Said means alsowhen not adapted for use for the latter mentioned purpose beingoperative to provide a back support for 'aperson sitting within theSpecification ofLetters iatent. Pafbented M 16 1922 Astill furtherobject is to make the de-- vice of mypresent invention of a durableconstruction which can be used in all kinds of weather and at'thesame'time insure comfort to the user. I p i These Objects, and otheradvantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, I c

attain in the followingmanner, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings in -which 1' Figure l is a front elevation of a portable 1housing device made in accordance with my present invention Figure 2 isa transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l,housing devicewithout the deprivation of Figure 3' is a view :of thesame' general A character as shown in Figure 2 with certain of the partshaving been moved into anotherposition, I i I Figure 4 is a longitudinalsectional elevationtaken on the line et-4e of Figure 2',

Figure 5 isa front elevation showing the dev ce full open in the front vFigure 6 is an endelevation of the device open at the front; the"movable sections serving as a canopy, v i r Figure 7 is a fragmentaryrear elevation illustrating an opening closed by a door to permit awaste water receptacle to be re moved and inserted'therein", and

Figure 8 is a sectionon the line 8-8 of Figure 4:. 1 I 2 Referringtot'he drawings 8 represents a hollow body: portion which may be made ofany suitable material suchas sheet metal,

:wood or the like; said bodyportion being elongated in the directionofits width and including a partition 9 spaced inwardly a short distancefromthe end 10; said partition extending upwardly' from the bottom 11 to'the top' 12 as clearly shown in Figures 2,3 and 4:. The space betweenthe partition 9 and the end lOis divided into a number of compartments13; 14, 15, 16 and 17 The bottom 11 supports,- within the maincompartment orchamberlS a frame"19";"said frame stopping short'of thepartition 9 and ofthe' opposite end 20 of the body portion.

cushion 21 is positioned upon] the frame, 19 and is substantially of thesame length I assaid frame as sliown in Figure 4.: This cushion extendsfrom the front 22 to the back 23 of the body portion 8 and provides abed bottom and is preferably tufted and covered with material whichpresents a pleasing appearance. Two end cushions 24 and 25 are placed inupright positions; the lower ends being respectively positioned adjacentthe ends of the frame and rest upon the bottom 11. A ledge strip 26 issecured to the partition 9 and end 20 and also to the back 23 at aposition just above the top edges of the cushions 24 and 25. The part 27of the ledge 26 which is secured to the back 23 has hinges 28 securedthereto at positions spaced apart within the width of the chamber 18 andthese hinges are attached to one edge of a box 29; said box flaring fromits end 30 to its end 31 and being normally positioned as shown inFigure 2 with its side 32 positioned against the back 23 of the bodyportion 8 so that'its opposite side 33 slants downwardly and forwardlyfrom the hinges 28. The side 33 has a cushion 34 which provides a backcushion, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 4, to permit a person to siton the cushion 21 with his or her back supported by the cushion 34 whenthe front section is open as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

The open end 31 of the box 29 is closed by a door 35; said door beinghinged to the outer free end of the side 33. When in this loweredposition, the end 30 of the box 29 is positioned under the portion 27 ofthe ledgestrip 26 so that an ornamental finish is provided by the strip26 which covers the upper end of the box 29 and also the upper edgeportions of the end cushions 24 and 25. The box 29 can be swung upwardlyeither in the position shown in full lines in Figure 3 or into theposition shown in dot-and-dash lines in said figure. When in theposition shown in full lines in Figure 3, the box can be supported bymeans of a hook 36 which is adapted to engage within an eye 37 on thebox. If deslred similar structures can be provided at opposite ends; theone hook 36 being'preferably secured to the partition 9 as shown inFigure 2. Then in this position,

the door'35 can be readily opened to permit clothing, either bedclothing or personal clothing. to be stored within or removed from theinterior of the box 29 and by raisingsaid box on its hinges a greaterarea of .the cushion 21 will be exposed for sleeping purposes. The back23 is provided with screened windows 38 at a position above the ledgestrip 26 and I preferably provide flex-- ible curtains 39 which areslidably mounted on rods 40 so that the curtains can be drawn inposition to secure privacy and also to fvary the amount of ventilationthrough the screened-windows. It will be noted that by swinging the box29"into the dot-and-dash .-line position shown in Figure 3, that saidbox will'serve as a battle or air entering through the screened windows38 and when the box is in the full line position as shown in Figure 3,the same will form a canopy or overhead structure to protect the sleeperagainst downward draft and furthermore the curtains 39can be moved intoa position away from the screened windows and yet the box 29 will serveas means for preventing the sleeper from being seen through saidwindows. The box 29 can be held in the dotand-dash line position bymeans of a hook 41 which'is adapted to engage with the eye 37 said hook41 being positioned above and to the rear of the hook 36.

The front 2. has an opening 42, the bottom of which is preferably madeslightly below the top of the forward edge of the cushion 24. Thisopening extends preferably the full width of the chamber 18 and'can beclosed by two screened frames 43 and 44' which are hinged together at45; the upper frame 43 being hinged at 46 to the lower'edge of the top12; said top being of a curvature such as clearly shown in Figures 2, 3and 8-.

I preferably provide curtains 47 for the screened frames 43 and 44; saidcurtains being slidable on rods 48. The frames can be held in theirclosed position by any suit able securing means accessible from theinterior of the chamber 18 and as illustrated I have shown hooks 49 forsaid purpose. With this arrangement the frames 43 and 44 can be extendedinto their full open positions as shown in full lines in Figure 6 andsupported by auxiliary bracket bars 49 said bracket bars having theirlowered ends secured to the body portion 8 in any suitable mannerpreferably by inserting them within sockets 50 as shown in Figure 6; theupper ends of the bars 49 being hooked within eyelets 51 in the frame44.

For purposes of protection during a storm or severe weather, I provide acovering 52 ring 52 and also attached to the cleats 54.

The bottom of the covering 55 can be secured to cleats 56 on the front22 below the bottom of the opening 42. r

The body portion 8 can be mounted on rollers or. wheels 57 which arepreferably secured to the bottom of tubular end supports 58; said endsupportsbeing bent in the formof yokes and bolted tothe opposite ends-ofthe body as clearly shown in Figure 6. If desired the roller 53 for thecovering 52 can be constructed in the same manner as a spring shaderoller so that'it will auto matically operate to re-wind the covering 52when it is desired to remove said covering from its protecting position.

The partition 9 has an opening 60 which is normally closed by a panel 61;said opening and panel in their normal positions being directly behindthe cushion 24; so as to be invisible when the cushion 2a is in place.The panel or door 61 is hinged at its bottom to the partition 9 and whenthe cushion Qt is removed, by slightly tilting and lifting the same, thepanel can be swung into the dotand-dash line position shown in Figure4c. The inner surface of the panel 61 supports a lavatory 62 and inorder to support the lavatory in a horizontal position, I I provide aflexible connection which consistsof two bars 63 and 61 which are hingedtogether at 65; the bar 64 being pivoted to the panel 61 while the bar63 is pivoted at 66 toa fixed part on theend 10. The lengths of the bars63 and 64; are such that when the panel moves into its horizontalposit-ion as shown inidotand-dash lines in Figure 1, said bars will forma brace for supporting the panel and lavatory in a horizontal positionso that the same can be used for washing purposes. The lavatory 62includes a recessed lip 67 and the bottom of the compartment 13 has awaste water receptacle 68 so positioned that after thetdevice is used.the mere swinging of the panel 61 upwardly on its hingewill' cause thelip to be projected downwardly so that the waste water within thelavatory will fall into the receptacle 28. This receptacle can beremoved from time to time through an opening 69 in the back 23; saidopening being normally closed by a door 70 as shown in Figure 7. Cleanwater can be supplied to the lavatory through the medium of a pipe 71which leads from a water storage tank 7 2 which is mounted within-thecompartment 15 and, as shown, the tank 72 has a filling neck which leadsthrough the top 12 of the body portion and through which fresh water canbe supplied from time to time.

The pipe 71 is provided with a valve 73 which may be operated from thecompartment 1 1; said compartment having an opening 7% closed by a door7 5. The outlet end of the pipe 71 is so positioned that when the valve73 is opened, the water will flow into the lavatory 62 and in thismanner a person within the chamber 18 can conveniently wash, and whennot desired for use the lavatory can be moved into the compartment 13merely by swinging the panel 61 upward as above described, after whichthe cushion 2a can be slipped into place between the frame 19 andpartition 9. 1] preferably provide a mirror 76 which is positionedwithin the compartment I l and secured to the inner surface of the end10 of the body portion; said mirror being in position so as to beclearly visible through the opening 74: in the partition 9 when the door75 isopened I The compartment 16 can be used for an electric storagebattery for the purpose of supplying currentto electric lamps77. r

The compartment--17 extends to the rear of the compartment 1 land islocated between the compartment 16 and the compartment 13; there beingan extension 17 of the compartment 17 which leads downwardly to therearof the compartment 13 as clearly shown in Figure 8. The compartment 17has an opening 78 which is normally closed by a hinged .door 79 and theextension 17' of the compartment 17has an opening 80 which is closed bya hinged door 81. The compartment 17 can be used preferably for holdingcoats or other articles to prevent them from being mussed and by theprovision of the extension 17 itis possible to suspendany longgarments,-such as mens trousers or the like; said garments extendingentirely within the depth of the compartment 17 and its extension 179.The door 80 can be opened to permit shoes or similar articles to bestoredin the bottom of the extension compartment 17?.

Thus apersontcan comfortably sit, re-- cline or sleep within the. deviceand at the same time can wash and keep hisor her clothes in properorder. A casing 82 is preferably secured to the bottom 11 and may beused for storing bed clothing or other articles. r

It is believed to be obvious that my improved device} affordsexceptional comfort and convenienceawhich renders the deviceparticularly desirable for use out of doors such for example astheseashore, for camping purposes orthe, like and at the same time thestructure is such that it can be readily moved from place to placectosuit the convenience and pleasure of the occuant.

While I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it willbe understood that the various parts of my invention may be changedwithout departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limitmyself to the precise construction set forth, but consider that I am atliberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within thescope of the appended claims.

Having thusdescribed my invention, what the bed bottom into a positionspaced above the bed bottom said box having an opening in its bottom; adoor for closing said opening; and means for locking said door toprevent it from opening downwardly when the box is in said firstposition; substantially as described.

2. A portable housing device including a body portion providing achamber; a bed bottom therein; and a back member movable from a positioncovering a portion of the rear of the bed bottom into a position spacedabove said bed bottom to form a canopy for a person lying on saidbedbottom; substantially as described.

8.1K portable housing device including a body portion providing achamber; a bed bottom therein; and a box movable from a positioncovering a portion of the rear of said bed bottom to a position spacedabove said bed bottom, said box flaring clownwardly whereby when the boxis in said first position its outer side will be inclined to the planeof the bed bottom; substantially as described.

4. A portable housing device including a body portion providing achamber; a bed bottom therein; and a box providing a seat back andmovable from a position partly covering the bed bottom into a positionspaced above the bed bottom, said box hav ing an opening which permitsaccess to the interior thereof when in said raised position;substantially as described.

5. A portable housing device including a body portion providin achamber; a bed bottom therein; and a loox movable from a positioncovering a portion of the rear of said bed bottom to a position spacedabove said bed bottom, said box flaring downwardly whereby when the boxis in said first position its outer side will be inclined to the planeof the bed bottom, the wide end of said box having an opening wherebyfree access may be had to the interior of the box when the box is in itsraised position; substantially as described.

6. A portable housing device including a body portion providing achamber; a bed bottom therein; and a box hinged adjacent the back ofsaid body portion and adapted to be swung from a position partlycovering the bed bottom into a position spaced above the bed bottom saidbox having an opening which permits access to the interior thereof whensaid box is in its raised position; substantially as described.

7. A portable housing device including a body portion providing achamber and windows leading therefrom; a bed bottom in said chamber; anda back member movable from a position covering a portion of the rear ofthe bed bottom into a position spaced above said bed bottom to form acanopy spaced between said bed bottom and said windows; substantially asdescribed.

8. A portable housing device including a body portion providing achamber and windows leading therefrom; a bedbottom in said chamber; anda back member movable from a position covering aportion of the rear ofthe bed bottom into a position spaced above said bed bottom to form acanopy spaced between said bed bottom and said windows the forwardportion of said member when in said latter position being spaced to therear of the front of said chamber whereby air can pass from said windowsto a position below the level of said member but a person lying on saidbed bottom cannot be seen through said windows; substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN S. WHITE.

I lVitnesses:

CHAS. E. Porrs, ELIZABETH ,Go'rnn.

